Trash breaking - chickens - Ruin bird dog?

[nritacco]

Hi,

I have a 7 year old GSP, who's a great bird dog (good nose, holds his points, etc.). I recently purchased chickens. My GSP is going nuts with the chickens. My question is: if I work to break him from going crazy (barking, whining, and trying to get at them) with the chickens, is there any danger in doing damage to his bird hunting?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nick

[slistoe]

He should be able to learn the difference in species and location.

[DonF]

I got a leg up on this. I've had chickens a long time and my pup's are all exposed from 8 wks on Never have a problem. Maybe you could take your dog out on a leash wth you with the chickens probably pull pretty good to start but might get used to it.

[bonasa]

I’ve been pretty stiff with corrections on older and younger dogs in regards to chickens. No effect on prey drive toward game birds.

[nritacco]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

He's actually beginning to settle down. Occasionally, when the chicks start running all over the place in front of him, he can't stand it any more and loses control. I've scolded him, commanded "Leave It". He looks at me and kind'a frowns, but he does seem to settle down.

Good stuff! Thanks

[oregon woodsmoke]

It would be a pretty stupid dog who can't tell the difference between a chicken and a pheasant. Our spaniels never had any issue understanding to leave the chickens, ducks, geese that were in the yard alone. They were still keen hunters, loving their job.

Dogs can tell the difference between the cat that lives at your house and a stray. They can tell the difference between the child that lives at your house and a stranger.

You just have to explain it to the dog, in a way that he understands, that the chickens belong to you and he can protect them if he wants to, but he can't chase them. Praise him a bit when he hunts so he know that makes you happy, and he will hunt and hunt hard and still leave the chickens alone.

And note: unless you do some training, he might leave your chickens alone and still chase the chickens that live down the road. It appears to be a territory issue. It also applies to cats. Your dog might leave your cat alone and still kill the cat from down the block that isn't his cat.

[JAY]

My GSP was extremely interested in my chickens for about a month but hardly pays any attention now. They are in a coop (otherwise fox and hawks get them). He completely ignores the chickens. He is highly interested in my Quail who are also caged. I have to say “forget-it” with the Quail. However in the open field he is highly focused on hunting/pointing Quail.

So is seems he knows the difference between Quail and chickens. And discouraging him from caged Quail does not affect his interest in field Quail.

[Sharon]

Beautiful picture!